About

The Great Appalachian Valley Conservation Corps (GAVCC) moves forward from the tradition of the Civilian Conservation Corps to engage young people in conservation service projects through meaningful work on the land.

The Great Appalachian Valley Conservation Corps (GAVCC) is a corps program based in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. The GAVCC moves forward from the tradition of the Civilian Conservation Corps to engage young people in conservation service projects. The GAVCC is a Conservation Legacy program supported in partnership with the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation.

The GAVCC strives to cultivate a new generation of local land stewards. We partner with land managers to accomplish impactful and lasting conservation service projects. We work to build and support sustainable public access, historical interpretation and ecological health. The GAVCC runs as a fee-for-service crew and we are willing to collaborate with land managers to find project funding.

EXPERIENCE

We provide an opportunity for young adults to do meaningful work on our public lands. Serving on a conservation crew is an immersive experience. Days filled with sweat, mud, hard work and beautiful country are all part of the job. The effort pays off when GAVCC participants come out of the field feeling strong, confident and passionate for the outdoors and their work. The GAVCC will reach out to local young adults for local projects. Participants will receive a bi-weekly living allowance and an AmeriCorps education award.

VALUES

The GAVCC will foster respectful, responsible and supportive relationships. By living and working on a crew, participants will gain the skills needed to work and lead within a high-functioning team.

LEGACY

The GAVCC is the living legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps. In fact, the first CCC camp- Camp Roosevelt, is less than 25 miles away from our home office. We aim to continue that tradition by offering young adults the opportunity to work on conservation projects that serve the land and people.

LEADERSHIP

The GAVCC is a program of Conservation Legacy and is supported and housed by the Shenandoah Valley Battlefield Foundation. Conservation Legacy is a national organization that cultivates local action to produce enduring widespread impact in communities, ecosystems and people. The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation works with partners to preserve the hallowed ground of the Valley’s Civil War battlefields.]